Toy



T. E. GRIFFIN TOY Filed Aug. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 16, 1928. 1,687,610

- T. E. GRIFFIN TOY Filed Aug. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 16, 1928 P -T'E i 01: if

' i THOMAS E. GRIFFIN, OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

TOY.

- Application filed August 16, 1926 Serial No. 129,552.

The invention relates to improvements in a novelty or toy. r I R It is an object of the invention to provide a toy that may represent in outline a duckling or the like and which when moved over a surface, will present a walking or waddling movement simulating the natural walking movement of a duck.

My invention is base on the discovery that if a toy is constructed with a certain formed base and is provided with a' pair of lateral finsj or'projectio-ns, that friction and gravitation will cause the article to rock from side to side and to have a forward and backward movement in conjunction with said side to side motion. I have found that in usinga rounded base in conjunction with the lateral webor feet that when the article is drawn over a surface this uniform waddling movement is effected, due to the swing ingof the toy from side to side by gravity and frictionand the contact of the feet or the fins with the floor surface. s i

In the accompanyingdrawings, I have shown the toy as representing a duck which naturally has'the waddling motion which .is obtained when thistoy ismoved over a floor surface. It will be understood, how

ever, that the toy may represent other fowl or animals where it is desired to simulate their walking motion.

gagement with the floor surface, S I Fig.4 is a v ew where the right-hand side In the drawings, V Fig. 1 designates a view of the device. Fig. 2 is a view where the toyreprcsents its central position,

Fig. 3 is a viewwhere the toy has swung to the left with its left foot or fin 1n enof the toy has swung down with the right fin or foot in contact with the floor surface, and

Fig. 5 is aview showing the left-hand side of the toy in a rear position and the righthand side in a forward position, while'Fig. (3 reverses the position shown in Fig. 5.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a of my invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, the numeral 1 designates the base of the toy. As clearly shown, this base is at its bottom rounded so as to be free to rock from one side to the other. The toy, however, is so constructed modified form Figs. 5 and 6.

that. whenit is idleitfwillmaintain a position such as shownin' Fig; 2,-that'is to say, it iswell balanced. i v

"The toy naturally has a neck and headl. In the embodiment of the invention herein shown, the top in its entirety resembles a duck, although it may, in keeping with the desire of the maker, resemble other fowls or animals.

"shown a modifiedform ofthe invention in which a roller 8 is inserted in the baseof the toy. Otherwise, the structure is the same as the base is rounded, and the toy balanced so that the slightest friction .will.

throw the toyfrom one side to the other.

In both the preferred and modified form of the invention, the toy is preferably con structed so as to have'a base presentingga" rubber surface. Any other materials may be used ,which will offer some resistance to the advancing movement of the toy over the floor surface.

It isanobject of this invention to provide a toy, which, whenmoved by the string 9 over a surface of wood, glass, carpet, or the like, presents a waddling movement simulating the walking movement of a; duck. This is caused by disturbing the equilibrium of the toy due to friction and gravity.- When the toy is, pulled over the surface, asshown in Fig. 2, the left-hand side will rock or move downwardly While swinging in] a forward direction until the footor fin 3engages the floor surface. This contact of the foot or fin with the floor surface, while the toy is being dragged, causes the toy to swing or rock to the position shown in Fig. 4: at which time the foot or fin 4 swings downwardlyand coacts with the floor sure 7 face. lVhen the rocking movement of the toy is as just described, the left-hand side of the toy with its fin 3 also slightly moves forwardly. Such motion is fully shown in The uniform Waddling or walking movement of the toy is effected by reason of the friction offered to the movement of its rounded base over the surface,

disturbing the gravity of the toy and the feet or fins which alternately cause the body to rock from ri ht to left and at the same time to swing in forward and reverse di' rections such as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. l

While I have shown'the toy as representing a duck, it may, of course, represent other objects and, in fact, any object which it is desirable to pull across a surface and have presenta walking or waddling movement.

Having thus described my'inv'ention, what I claim is:

1. A toy'comprising a body having a floor engaging surface rounded to permit substantially universal rocking movement and a plurality of laterally extending members secured to the lower portion ofsaid'body and adapted for engagement with the floor when said body is rocked laterally and means for advancing the toy overthe floor.

2. A toy comprising a body having a substantially parti-spherical bottom surface for engagement with a supporting medium such as a. floor or the like and a. lateralprojection on each side of said body adjacent the lower portion thereof and means whereby the toy may be advanced over said supporting'medium. p j

3. A toy comprising body having a base portion formed with a substantially parti spherical contacting surface for engagement with a: supporting medium and a member s'ecu'red toand projecting from each side of said body adjacent to said contacting'sur face portion but out ofengagement with the supporting medium in the normal uprigl'it position of the'toy and means whereby the toy may be advanced over said support ing medium.

4. A toy of the character described comprising a substantially semi-spherical body portion and a plurality of projections extending laterally therefrom adjacent the lower aortion thereof and soaced from butv adapted for engagement with a supporting surface upon rocking morement of said body portion and means for advancing the'toy over the supporting surface.

A toy of the'charact'er described com prising a body portion, a figure-headsecured to said body portion, a base secured to said body portlon and hav ng a substantially parti-spherical floor contact-ingsurface, a

pair of fins projecting from said base, one at surface anda lateral fin projecting from,

said base at each side thereof and adjacent to but spaced vertically above said surface for the purpose described and means whereby the toy may be moved across a floor or the like. J v j 7, A toy of the character described comprising-a body having a substantially partispherical' base, said basebeing balanced to normally. maintain the toy in a substantially uprightposition, a pair of fins projecting one from each side of the toy at the rear of the base and adjacent tobut above its point of surface contact, and meansfor drawing the toy over a surface whereby it alternately rocks from one side to the other while thelateral fins mov e alternately in a back'and forth direction.

8Q A toy of the character described comprismembers are formed of flexible material. f

10. A. toy constructed substantially in ac-.

cordance with claim 3 and wherein the contact surfaceof said base andthe said material and said members are flexible. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS E. GRIFFIN.

projecting members are formed of friction 

